London: Even as the Government of India pressed it not to telecast the controversial Nirbhaya documentary, the BBC on Wednesday aired the film in the United Kingdom on BBC Four at 10 pm.
According to Indian Standard Time (IST), the film ‘India's Daughter' was broadcasted at 3:30 am on Thursday.
Originally, BBC had decided to show it on March 8, coinciding with International Women's Day, but suddenly decided to advance it even as a storm was raging in India, saying it will enable viewers to see this ‘incredibly powerful documentary at the earliest opportunity'.
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In a statement here, BBC said, "This harrowing documentary, made with the full support and cooperation of the victim's parents, provides a revealing insight into a horrific crime that sent shock waves around the world and led to protests across India demanding changes in attitudes towards women."
The statement from the broadcaster further said that the film was fully complied with BBC's editorial guidelines.
"The film handles the issue responsibly and we are confident the programme fully complies with our editorial guidelines. The documentary has the backing of a number of other public service broadcasters, however the BBC is only responsible for transmission of the film in the UK," it added.
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The BBC statement came on a day the Indian Parliament witnessed outrage over the interview of gang-rape convict, prompting the Narendra Modi government to promise an in-depth inquiry and disallowing its telecast.
The documentary included an interview conducted by British filmmaker Leslee Udwin and BBC, of Mukesh Singh, the driver of the bus in which the 23-year-old paramedical student was brutally gang-raped by six men on December 16, 2012. Mukesh has made derogatory statements against women, Delhi police said.
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